Coolant temperature sensor diagnosis method, device, equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a cooling liquid temperature sensor diagnosis method, device, equipment and storage medium, and belongs to the technical field of vehicle intelligent control. In the application, the temperature reference interval of the engine is determined based on the inlet temperature, the radiator outlet temperature, the environment temperature and the target heating temperature; in response to the cooling liquid temperature being greater than the upper limit value of the temperature reference interval, the cooling liquid temperature sensor is subjected to fault detection based on the PTC heater temperature and the cooling liquid temperature; and in response to the cooling liquid temperature sensor not being faulty, the operation of the engine is controlled based on the cooling liquid temperature. The application can avoid affecting the operation of the engine due to misjudgment of the cooling liquid temperature sensor fault, and ensures normal driving of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle intelligent control technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus, equipment and storage medium for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor. Background Technology

[0002] In vehicle engine control systems, the accuracy of coolant temperature directly affects engine operation. Traditional methods for diagnosing coolant temperature sensors primarily rely on monitoring whether the sensor output signal is within a preset reasonable physical range. However, these methods have limitations under certain conditions. For example, in hybrid vehicles equipped with liquid-heated positive temperature coefficient heaters, the heater's active heating of the coolant system can cause an unexpected deviation between the coolant temperature and the engine's actual temperature. In such cases, a misjudgment of the coolant temperature sensor can easily occur, rendering the coolant temperature unusable for engine control and thus affecting vehicle performance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor, which can solve the problem of vehicles misjudging a coolant temperature sensor malfunction, causing the coolant temperature to be unusable for engine control, thereby affecting vehicle operation. The technical solution is as follows:

[0004] On the one hand, a method for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor is provided, the method comprising:

[0005] In response to the engine start of the vehicle, the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor are acquired.

[0006] The engine temperature reference range is determined based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature.

[0007] In response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range, a fault detection is performed on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature.

[0008] In response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning, the engine operation is controlled based on the coolant temperature.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0010] In response to a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor, the gear position of the vehicle is determined;

[0011] In response to the vehicle being in park or neutral, the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to operate in order to cool the engine;

[0012] In response to the vehicle not being in park or neutral, the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode.

[0013] In another possible implementation, the fault detection of the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature includes:

[0014] In response to the coolant temperature being greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0015] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0016] In another possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0017] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0018] In another possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0019] In response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0020] In another possible implementation, determining the engine's temperature reference range based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature includes:

[0021] Determine whether the engine is cold;

[0022] In response to the engine being in a cold state, a pre-stored first weight set corresponding to the cold state is obtained. The first weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0023] In response to the engine not being cold, determine whether the engine is hot.

[0024] In response to the engine being in a hot-engine state, a pre-stored second weight set corresponding to the hot-engine state is obtained. The second weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0025] In response to the engine not being in a warm-up state, determine whether the PTC heater is in an active heating state;

[0026] In response to the PTC heater being in an active heating state, a pre-stored third weight set corresponding to the active heating state is obtained. The third weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0027] On the other hand, a coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device is provided, the device comprising:

[0028] The acquisition module is configured to acquire, in response to the engine start of the vehicle, the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor.

[0029] The determination module is configured to determine the temperature reference range of the engine based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature.

[0030] A detection module is configured to perform fault detection on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature in response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range.

[0031] A control module is configured to control the operation of the engine based on the coolant temperature in response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the control module is configured to:

[0033] In response to a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor, the gear position of the vehicle is determined;

[0034] In response to the vehicle being in park or neutral, the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to operate in order to cool the engine;

[0035] In response to the vehicle not being in park or neutral, the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode.

[0036] In another possible implementation, the detection module is used for:

[0037] In response to the coolant temperature being greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0038] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0039] In another possible implementation, the detection module is further configured to:

[0040] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0041] In another possible implementation, the detection module is further configured to:

[0042] In response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0043] In another possible implementation, the determining module is used for:

[0044] Determine whether the engine is cold;

[0045] In response to the engine being in a cold state, a pre-stored first weight set corresponding to the cold state is obtained. The first weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0046] In response to the engine not being cold, determine whether the engine is hot.

[0047] In response to the engine being in a hot-engine state, a pre-stored second weight set corresponding to the hot-engine state is obtained. The second weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0048] In response to the engine not being in a warm-up state, determine whether the PTC heater is in an active heating state;

[0049] In response to the PTC heater being in an active heating state, a pre-stored third weight set corresponding to the active heating state is obtained. The third weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0050] On the other hand, an electronic device is provided, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and running on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the method described in any of the above.

[0051] On the other hand, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the method described in any of the preceding claims.

[0052] On the other hand, a computer program product is provided, including computer program instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in any of the preceding claims.

[0053] The beneficial effect of the technical solution provided in this application is that it establishes a temperature reference range reflecting the current engine temperature. When the coolant temperature sensor reading exceeds the temperature reference range, it does not immediately determine that the coolant temperature sensor is faulty. Instead, it compares the coolant temperature with the PTC heater temperature. When the coolant temperature sensor reading is lower than the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not actually faulty. At this time, the collected coolant temperature is used to control the engine operation, thereby avoiding the impact on the normal operation of the vehicle due to misjudgment of coolant temperature sensor failure. Attached Figure Description

[0054] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an implementation environment provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0058] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0059] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] In related technologies, vehicles need to determine the engine temperature based on the engine coolant temperature, and then control the engine operation based on the engine temperature. If the coolant temperature detection is inaccurate, it will lead to abnormal engine operation. Therefore, after the engine starts, it is necessary to diagnose the engine coolant temperature sensor. Only when the coolant temperature sensor is normal can the coolant temperature it collects be used to control the engine operation. However, in some cases, fault diagnosis is prone to errors. For example, when some hybrid vehicles equipped with PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heaters start in low-temperature environments, to meet the heating needs of the occupants, the PTC heater is usually used to heat the coolant and deliver the coolant to the vehicle's heating system to provide warmth to the occupants. This causes the coolant temperature detected by the engine coolant temperature sensor to mismatch with the actual engine temperature. In this case, the vehicle will mistakenly believe that the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, making the coolant temperature unusable for controlling the engine operation, thus affecting the vehicle's driving.

[0061] The applicant of this application discovered that: when the vehicle engine starts, the system acquires the ambient temperature from an ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature from a PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature from an engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature from an engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature from an engine intake air temperature sensor; based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, it determines a temperature reference range for the engine; in response to the coolant temperature exceeding the upper limit of the temperature reference range, it performs fault detection on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and coolant temperature; in response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning, it controls the engine operation based on the coolant temperature, thereby avoiding the impact on normal engine operation due to misjudgment of a coolant temperature sensor malfunction.

[0062] This application provides a method for diagnosing a vehicle's coolant temperature sensor. In some embodiments, this method is executed by the vehicle's engine controller. The vehicle includes an engine, an engine controller, an engine intake air temperature sensor, an engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, a PTC heater, a PTC heater temperature sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor. The engine controller controls the engine's operation based on operating data sent by the intake air temperature sensor, radiator outlet temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor, PTC heater, PTC heater temperature sensor, and ambient temperature sensor. Figure 1 As shown, the engine controller includes a processor 110, a memory 120, and a communication component 130, etc. The following is a description of each part:

[0063] The processor 110 may be a central processing unit (CPU), which can be used to execute the above-described coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method.

[0064] The memory 120 can be various volatile or non-volatile memory, such as solid-state disk (SSD), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc. The memory can be used to store the operating data of the intake air temperature sensor, radiator outlet temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor, PTC heater, PTC heater temperature sensor, and ambient temperature sensor.

[0065] The communication component 130 can be a wired network connector, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) module, a Bluetooth module, a cellular communication module, etc. The communication component can be used to transmit data with the intake air temperature sensor, radiator outlet temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor, PTC heater, PTC heater temperature sensor, ambient temperature sensor, and other devices.

[0066] This application provides a method for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor, such as... Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the method includes:

[0067] S201. In response to the engine start of the vehicle, acquire the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor.

[0068] In practice, when the vehicle engine starts, the ambient temperature sensor collects the outside air temperature, providing a reference for air conditioning and engine control. The target heating temperature of the PTC heater is its preset constant temperature value. It utilizes the characteristic that the resistance of ceramic materials increases sharply after the Curie temperature to achieve automatic temperature control, mainly used for winter cab heating and engine preheating. The PTC heater temperature sensor directly monitors the real-time temperature of the heater body. The engine coolant temperature sensor is usually installed in the cylinder block water jacket or coolant lines. Its internal negative temperature coefficient thermistor resistance decreases as the coolant temperature rises, thus providing a signal to the engine controller to correct fuel injection, ignition timing, and other control functions. The radiator outlet temperature sensor collects the coolant temperature after being cooled by the radiator, monitoring heat dissipation efficiency. The engine intake air temperature sensor measures the air temperature entering the engine intake manifold, and the engine controller adjusts the air-fuel ratio accordingly to ensure combustion efficiency. These temperature information collectively provide key data support for engine cold start, thermal management, and emission control.

[0069] S202. Determine the temperature reference range of the engine based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature and target heating temperature.

[0070] In practice, the determination of the engine's temperature reference range integrates multiple temperature parameters to more accurately determine whether the coolant temperature sensor readings are reasonable under specific operating conditions. This range is not a fixed value, but rather a reasonable temperature range obtained through a weighted algorithm. First, determine whether the engine is in a cold state. When the vehicle's engine starts, determine the downtime before engine start. If the downtime is greater than or equal to a preset time (for example, the preset time can be set to 8 hours), the engine is determined to be in a cold state. Obtain a pre-stored first weight set corresponding to the cold state. The first weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature (for example, the weight of intake air temperature is 30%, the weight of radiator outlet temperature is 10%, the weight of ambient temperature is 40%, and the weight of target heating temperature is 20%). Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, perform weighted processing on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, determine the temperature reference range of the engine. Specifically, based on the weighted value, the reference temperature of the engine is first determined. The product of the reference temperature and a first specified coefficient (for example, the first specified coefficient can be set to 1.1) can be determined as the upper limit of the temperature reference range, and the product of the reference temperature and a second specified coefficient (for example, the second specified coefficient can be set to 0.9) can be determined as the lower limit of the temperature reference range.

[0071] If the downtime is less than a preset duration, it is determined that the engine is not in a cold state. To determine whether the engine is in a hot state, a correspondence table between the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, target heating temperature, and engine temperature can be obtained. Based on the correspondence table, the engine temperature is determined. The correspondence table between the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, target heating temperature, and engine temperature is shown in Table 1.

[0072] Table 1

[0073]

[0074] Table 1 is used to illustrate the correspondence between the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, target heating temperature, and engine temperature.

[0075] When the engine temperature is greater than or equal to the engine temperature threshold (for example, the engine temperature threshold can be set to 80°C), the engine is determined to be in a hot-engine state. A pre-stored second weight set corresponding to the hot-engine state is obtained. The second weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively (for example, the weight of intake air temperature is 25%, the weight of radiator outlet temperature is 50%, the weight of ambient temperature is 10%, and the weight of target heating temperature is 15%). Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined. Specifically, based on the weighted value, the reference temperature of the engine is first determined. The product of the reference temperature and a first specified coefficient (for example, the first specified coefficient can be set to 1.1) can be determined as the upper limit of the temperature reference range, and the product of the reference temperature and a second specified coefficient (for example, the second specified coefficient can be set to 0.9) can be determined as the lower limit of the temperature reference range.

[0076] When the engine is not in a warm-up state, determine whether the PTC heater is in an active heating state (read the PTC heater control status; the PTC heater is in an active heating state when the controller issues an start command and specific power requirements to the PTC). When the PTC heater is in an active heating state, obtain a pre-stored third weight set corresponding to the active heating state. The third weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature (for example, the weight of intake air temperature is 20%, the weight of radiator outlet temperature is 30%, the weight of ambient temperature is 10%, and the weight of target heating temperature is 40%). Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, perform weighted processing on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, determine the temperature reference range of the engine. Specifically, based on the weighted value, the reference temperature of the engine is first determined. The product of the reference temperature and a first specified coefficient (for example, the first specified coefficient can be set to 1.1) can be determined as the upper limit of the temperature reference range, and the product of the reference temperature and a second specified coefficient (for example, the second specified coefficient can be set to 0.9) can be determined as the lower limit of the temperature reference range.

[0077] S203. In response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range, a fault detection is performed on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature.

[0078] In practice, when the coolant temperature exceeds the upper limit of the temperature reference range, it indicates that the coolant temperature is too high. To confirm whether the false alarm is caused by a malfunction in the coolant temperature sensor itself, a fault detection is performed on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature. Since the PTC heater is a heat source, its temperature should be higher than the coolant temperature. However, if the coolant temperature is greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, it can be determined that the coolant temperature sensor is malfunctioning, resulting in an excessively high detected coolant temperature. If the coolant temperature is lower than the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0079] S204. In response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning, control the operation of the engine based on the coolant temperature.

[0080] In practice, assuming the coolant temperature sensor is functioning correctly, the engine control unit (ECU) continuously receives accurate coolant temperature data and precisely regulates multiple engine systems to ensure the engine is always operating at its optimal state. For example, fuel injection is adjusted based on coolant temperature: at low temperatures, injection is increased to enrich the air-fuel mixture, ensuring smooth starting and stable operation; as temperature rises, injection is gradually reduced to normal levels to optimize combustion efficiency and fuel economy. Ignition timing is also adjusted according to coolant temperature: at low temperatures, the ignition timing is advanced to improve combustion efficiency and help the engine warm up quickly; at high temperatures, the ignition timing is advanced to prevent knocking.

[0081] In this embodiment, traditional diagnostic methods often rely solely on comparing a single value from the coolant temperature sensor with a fixed threshold range, reporting a fault if the value exceeds the range. However, in PTC active heating scenarios, the coolant is rapidly heated, and its temperature may briefly exceed the actual engine block temperature. If the system misjudges a sensor malfunction and refuses to use its signal, it affects engine operation. By introducing multiple relevant parameters such as ambient temperature, intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, PTC target heating temperature, and PTC heater body temperature, a dynamic temperature reference range reflecting the current true thermal state of the engine is constructed. When the coolant temperature reading exceeds the temperature reference range, a sensor malfunction is not immediately determined. Instead, a secondary verification mechanism is initiated, comparing the reading with the PTC heater body temperature. Since the PTC is a heat source, its temperature should theoretically always be higher than the coolant temperature it heats. Therefore, only when the coolant temperature reading unreasonably exceeds the temperature of the heat source itself can it be definitively determined that the coolant temperature sensor itself has short-circuited or malfunctioned. Ultimately, only when the coolant temperature sensor is confirmed to be functioning correctly will its collected temperature signal be used to control engine operation, thereby ensuring normal engine operation.

[0082] In some embodiments, the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method further includes:

[0083] In response to a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor, the gear position of the vehicle is determined.

[0084] In practice, when the vehicle's coolant temperature sensor malfunctions, the engine controller will activate a protection strategy to prevent danger from occurring. First, it will determine the vehicle's current gear status by monitoring the signal from the gear position sensor.

[0085] In response to the vehicle being in park or neutral, the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to operate in order to cool the engine.

[0086] In practice, if the vehicle is determined to be in park (P) or neutral (N), the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to start working (usually at low or high speed) to force auxiliary cooling of the engine and prevent engine overheating damage due to lack of accurate temperature signals. If the engine is overheated, but the coolant temperature reading is low due to the coolant temperature sensor, failure to control the radiator's cooling fan to cool the engine will result in engine damage.

[0087] In response to the vehicle not being in park or neutral, the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode.

[0088] In practice, if the vehicle is not in park or neutral (i.e., in a driving gear such as D or R), the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode (also known as emergency operation mode). In this mode, the engine power is limited, the shift logic may be locked in a fixed gear, and the instrument panel is often accompanied by a malfunction indicator light to ensure that the vehicle can still maintain basic driving ability but limit its performance output, avoid further mechanical failures caused by insufficient heat dissipation or power system overload, and remind the driver to perform maintenance in time.

[0089] In this embodiment, when the vehicle is in park (P) or neutral (N), the cooling fan is forcibly controlled to operate, which can actively assist in cooling the engine and avoid ignoring the cooling needs, thereby preventing serious mechanical damage such as cylinder overheating, oil failure, or even cylinder scoring. Conversely, if the vehicle is not in park or neutral, the limp mode is triggered to limit the engine power output and lock the shift logic. This ensures that the vehicle still has basic driving capabilities to maintain safe parking or low-speed movement, while avoiding secondary failures caused by insufficient cooling and power overload under high-speed or high-load conditions.

[0090] In some embodiments, the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method further includes:

[0091] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0092] In practice, if the coolant temperature is lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it indicates that the coolant temperature is too low (especially when the vehicle is equipped with a PTC heater, it is even less likely to occur when the coolant temperature is lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range), thus determining that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0093] In response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0094] In practice, when the coolant temperature is within the temperature reference range, it indicates that the coolant temperature is reasonable and confirms that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0095] In this embodiment, when the coolant temperature is lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it can be quickly determined that the coolant temperature sensor is faulty; while when the temperature is within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is normal. This significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of fault diagnosis, ensures the stable operation and combustion efficiency of the engine under different operating conditions, and can also promptly alert the driver to prevent serious mechanical damage such as engine overheating, increased wear, or even cylinder scoring caused by abnormal coolant temperature.

[0096] In some embodiments, the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method further includes:

[0097] In response to obtaining the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, determine whether the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature are valid; in response to at least one of the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature being invalid, take the average value of the other temperatures among the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature excluding the invalid temperature, and determine the engine temperature reference range based on the average value.

[0098] Specifically, when the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature are obtained, it is determined whether these temperatures are valid. If at least one of these temperatures is invalid (e.g., signal loss, or values ​​significantly exceeding a reasonable range), the invalid temperature is discarded. The average of the other temperatures is taken as the engine's reference temperature. The product of the reference temperature and a first specified coefficient (exemplarily set to 1.1) is determined as the upper limit of the temperature reference range, and the product of the reference temperature and a second specified coefficient (exemplarily set to 0.9) is determined as the lower limit of the temperature reference range, thus obtaining the temperature reference range. If all of the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature are invalid, the user is notified of a sensor malfunction corresponding to these temperatures.

[0099] In this embodiment, by using multi-sensor data fusion and consistency checks, it is possible to effectively identify signal anomalies (such as values ​​significantly exceeding the reasonable range, signal loss), slow drift, or performance degradation of individual sensors, which are difficult to detect using the fixed threshold method. Even if individual auxiliary sensors (such as intake air temperature or ambient temperature sensors) temporarily fail, a reasonable temperature reference range can still be constructed by eliminating invalid data and calculating the average value of the remaining valid data, and the coolant temperature sensor can continue to be monitored. This ensures the continued effectiveness of the diagnostic function in the event of partial sensor anomalies and avoids the failure of the entire diagnostic function due to a problem with a single signal source.

[0100] All of the above-mentioned optional technical solutions can be combined in any way to form optional embodiments of this disclosure, and will not be described in detail here.

[0101] Based on the same inventive concept, corresponding to the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device.

[0102] refer to Figure 3 The coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device includes:

[0103] The acquisition module 301 is configured to acquire, in response to the engine start of the vehicle, the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor.

[0104] The determination module 302 is configured to determine the temperature reference range of the engine based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature and target heating temperature.

[0105] The detection module 303 is configured to perform fault detection on the coolant temperature sensor based on the PTC heater temperature and the coolant temperature in response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range.

[0106] The control module 304 is configured to control the operation of the engine based on the coolant temperature in response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning.

[0107] In one possible implementation, the 304 control module is used for:

[0108] In response to a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor, the gear position of the vehicle is determined;

[0109] In response to the vehicle being in park or neutral, the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to operate in order to cool the engine;

[0110] In response to the vehicle not being in park or neutral, the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode.

[0111] In another possible implementation, the detection module 303 is used for:

[0112] In response to the coolant temperature being greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0113] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the PTC heater temperature, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0114] In another possible implementation, the detection module 303 is further configured to:

[0115] In response to the coolant temperature being lower than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned.

[0116] In another possible implementation, the detection module 303 is further configured to:

[0117] In response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning.

[0118] In another possible implementation, the determining module 302 is used to:

[0119] Determine whether the engine is cold;

[0120] In response to the engine being in a cold state, a pre-stored first weight set corresponding to the cold state is obtained. The first weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0121] In response to the engine not being cold, determine whether the engine is hot.

[0122] In response to the engine being in a hot-engine state, a pre-stored second weight set corresponding to the hot-engine state is obtained. The second weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0123] In response to the engine not being in a warm-up state, determine whether the PTC heater is in an active heating state;

[0124] In response to the PTC heater being in an active heating state, a pre-stored third weight set corresponding to the active heating state is obtained. The third weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

[0125] It should be noted that the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device provided in the above embodiments is only illustrated by the division of the above functional modules when diagnosing the coolant temperature sensor. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. In addition, the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic device and the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method embodiments provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept, and their specific implementation process can be found in the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0126] Based on the same inventive concept, corresponding to the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the program, it implements the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method described in the above embodiments.

[0127] Figure 4 This embodiment illustrates a more specific hardware structure of an electronic device, which may include a processor 1010, a memory 1020, an input / output interface 1030, a communication interface 1040, and a bus 1050. The processor 1010, memory 1020, input / output interface 1030, and communication interface 1040 are interconnected internally via the bus 1050.

[0128] The processor 1010 can be implemented using a general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, and is used to execute relevant programs to implement the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification.

[0129] The memory 1020 can be implemented in the form of ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), static storage device, dynamic storage device, etc. The memory 1020 can store the operating system and other applications. When the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification are implemented by software or firmware, the relevant program code is stored in the memory 1020 and is called and executed by the processor 1010.

[0130] The input / output interface 1030 is used to connect input / output modules to realize information input and output. Input / output modules can be configured as components within the device (not shown in the figure) or externally connected to the device to provide corresponding functions. Input devices may include keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, various sensors, etc., while output devices may include displays, speakers, vibrators, indicator lights, etc.

[0131] The communication interface 1040 is used to connect a communication module (not shown in the figure) to enable communication between this device and other devices. The communication module can communicate via wired means (such as USB, Ethernet cable, etc.) or wireless means (such as mobile network, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0132] Bus 1050 includes a pathway for transmitting information between various components of the device, such as processor 1010, memory 1020, input / output interface 1030, and communication interface 1040.

[0133] It should be noted that although the above-described device only shows the processor 1010, memory 1020, input / output interface 1030, communication interface 1040, and bus 1050, in specific implementations, the device may also include other components necessary for normal operation. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described device may only include the components necessary for implementing the embodiments of this specification, and not necessarily all the components shown in the figures.

[0134] The electronic device described above is used to implement the corresponding coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method in the foregoing embodiments, and has the beneficial effects of the corresponding method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0135] In an exemplary embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is also provided, such as a memory including instructions that can be executed by a processor in a terminal to complete the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method described above. This computer-readable storage medium can be non-transitory. For example, the computer-readable storage medium can be ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), CD-ROM (CompactDisc Read-Only Memory), magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage devices, etc.

[0136] In an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product is also provided, including computer program instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the coolant temperature sensor diagnostic method described above.

[0137] It should be noted that the information (including but not limited to user equipment information, user personal information, etc.), data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, stored data, displayed data, etc.) and signals (including but not limited to signals transmitted between user terminals and other devices) involved in this application are all authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties, and the collection, use and processing of related data must comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of the relevant countries and regions.

[0138] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk.

[0139] It should be understood that "multiple" as used herein refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. Furthermore, the step numbers described herein are merely illustrative of one possible execution order. In some other embodiments, the steps may not be executed in numerical order, such as two steps with different numbers being executed simultaneously, or two steps with different numbers being executed in the reverse order of the illustration. This application does not limit this.

[0140] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor, characterized in that, include: In response to the engine start of the vehicle, the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor are acquired. The engine temperature reference range is determined based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature. In response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range and the coolant temperature being greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, or in response to the coolant temperature being less than the lower limit of the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned. In response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range and the coolant temperature being less than the PTC heater temperature, or in response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range, it is determined that the coolant temperature sensor is not malfunctioning. In response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning, the engine operation is controlled based on the coolant temperature.

2. The method for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor, the gear position of the vehicle is determined; In response to the vehicle being in park or neutral, the radiator's cooling fan is controlled to operate in order to cool the engine; In response to the vehicle not being in park or neutral, the vehicle is controlled to enter limp mode.

3. The method for diagnosing a coolant temperature sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the engine's temperature reference range based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature includes: Determine whether the engine is cold; In response to the engine being in a cold state, a pre-stored first weight set corresponding to the cold state is obtained. The first weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined. In response to the engine not being cold, determine whether the engine is hot. In response to the engine being in a hot-engine state, a pre-stored second weight set corresponding to the hot-engine state is obtained. The second weight set includes weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined. In response to the engine not being in a warm-up state, determine whether the PTC heater is in an active heating state; In response to the PTC heater being in an active heating state, a pre-stored third weight set corresponding to the active heating state is obtained. The third weight set includes the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, respectively. Based on the weights corresponding to the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature, a weighted average is performed on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature to obtain a weighted value. Based on the weighted value, the temperature reference range of the engine is determined.

4. A diagnostic device for a coolant temperature sensor, characterized in that, include: The acquisition module is configured to acquire, in response to the engine start of the vehicle, the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor, the target heating temperature of the PTC heater, the PTC heater temperature collected by the PTC heater temperature sensor, the coolant temperature collected by the engine coolant temperature sensor, the radiator outlet temperature collected by the engine radiator outlet temperature sensor, and the intake air temperature collected by the engine intake air temperature sensor. The determination module is configured to determine the temperature reference range of the engine based on the intake air temperature, radiator outlet temperature, ambient temperature, and target heating temperature. A detection module is configured to determine that the coolant temperature sensor has malfunctioned in response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range and the coolant temperature being greater than or equal to the PTC heater temperature, or in response to the coolant temperature being less than the lower limit of the temperature reference range; and to determine that the coolant temperature sensor has not malfunctioned in response to the coolant temperature being greater than the upper limit of the temperature reference range and the coolant temperature being less than the PTC heater temperature, or in response to the coolant temperature being within the temperature reference range. A control module is configured to control the operation of the engine based on the coolant temperature in response to the coolant temperature sensor not malfunctioning.

5. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and running on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the program, it implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, characterized in that, The computer instructions are used to cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program instructions are executed on a computer, the computer causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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